25 Movies to Watch Before the 2023 Oscars
After the confetti settles and the last of the champagne is drunk from New Year’s Eve, it’s time to turn your sights to the best night of the year: The Oscars. The longtime award show is not without its problems. But regardless (or perhaps, because) of the artifice and fish-eyed lens of the Academy Awards, the legend of the Oscars still glimmers in the public consciousness.
If you want a jump-start on the nominees, consider the following list. All of these movies are on the official list for consideration, and all of them are generating buzz for one reason or another. From family films to gothic thrillers, there’s something to suit everyone’s taste.
My preferred method of watching is at my local landmark theatre (either Chez Artiste on Colorado Boulevard or The Mayan on Broadway in Denver) but many of these films are available on streaming services.
Aftersun’s premise is pretty simple: a woman in her 30s remembers a holiday she took with her father twenty years earlier. Equal parts nostalgia and embarrassment, this film explores the chasm between the true people we love and how we remember them. Aftersun was made mostly by unknowns - it’s the feature film debut for actor/director Charlotte Wells, and has a fresh-faced cast. Despite its untried cast and crew, Aftersun has already been generating buzz at the award festival circuit. It doesn’t hurt that it was produced by A24.
Why I think it’ll be nominated: The Academy LOVES a beautifully shot coming-of-age film.
Where to watch: Rent on Vudu for $4.99
13 whole years after the triumphant debut of the technologically groundbreaking Avatar, James Cameron returns to our screen with the follow up to the first film, The Way of Water. Jokes about Papyrus and Pocahontas aside, Avatar was an absolute behemoth with both critics and audiences, and James Cameron is nothing if not detail-oriented. Early reviews for The Way of Water are promising, and whether or not it ends up being nominated for any of the acting awards, it’ll almost certainly be nominated for technical awards.
Why I think it’ll be nominated: Big budget and technical intricacy.
Where to watch: Only in theaters as of this writing (1/3/23)
This charming Irish dramedy has been generating buzz for a while, and will almost certainly garner Colin Farrell his first Academy Award nomination. It’s beautifully filmed and the acting from veteran Irish actors is even better. This is Farrell’s third collaboration with writer/director Martin McDonagh in addition to The Lobster and In Bruges. Both films were Oscar-nominated, and The Banshees of Inisherin may just have what it takes to take Farrell from bridesmaid to bride.
Why I think it’ll be nominated: It’s a foreign family drama, need I say more?
Where to watch: HBO Max
Produced in the monstrous shadow of Chadwick Boseman, Wakanda Forever is by far Marvel’s most promising addition to its cinematic universe this year. In an unusual twist, Boseman’s death was incorporated into the movie, as Wakandans have to protect their home from aliens in the wake of king T’Challa’s (Bosemans’ character) death. Marvel movies have yet to breach the big categories, but it will almost certainly garner some technical nominations.
Why I think it’ll be nominated: If nothing else, the costumes are MAGNIFICENT.
Where to watch: Only in theaters as of this writing (1/3/23); look for it later on Disney+
I will be the first to admit that I have a major soft spot for Bob’s Burgers. The movie wasn’t exactly Citizen Kane, but it was funny, sweet, and inspirational. It’s a musical, and it’s all wrapped up around a murder mystery and the highest stakes the Belchers have ever faced. The key to its nomination, however? It’s an animated movie, and that category tends to have a Disney/Pixar movie, a Dreamworks movie, and some dark horse candidates. Why not Bob’s Burgers?
Why I think it’ll be nominated: It’s ganimated, a typically light category.
Where to watch: HBO Max, hulu, Google Play
Elvis likely won’t be nominated for best picture, but it’ll be in the mix. The film was all over the place; you could tell Baz Luhrmann had problems balancing his normally manic visual style with the more down-home parts of Presley’s life. He also doesn’t do a great job pointing out that Priscilla Presley was 14-years-old when she and Elvis met, and 16 when they were married. Tom Hanks wasn’t right for Colonel Tom Parker; consummate character actor Jim Broadbent would’ve had the perfect balance of maliciousness and camp needed for the role. Nevertheless, the costumes and artistic direction are incredible, and if Austin Butler is not nominated for best actor, I may revolt. He totally embodied Elvis’s unique mixture of raw charisma and childish naïveté. Butler prepared so much for Elvis that over a year after filming wrapped, he is still speaking in Elvis’s slow drawl.
Why I think it’ll be nominated: Austin Butler WAS Elvis.
Where to watch: HBO Max
In 2022, Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow ruled book reviews, and Everything, Everywhere All at Once ruled movie reviews. Michelle Yeoh stars as a middle-aged woman trapped in the doldrums of her life, when one day she learns the fate of the universe (and every parallel universe) is in her hands. It has just the right amount of everything - action, fun, humor, inspiration, emotion. Yeoh more than deserves an Oscar nod, but my hopeful little heart wants a dark horse nomination for Ke Huy Quan as Waymond Wang. This is Quan’s first feature film since The Goonies (thanks, institutional racism!) and if the Oscars isn’t the time for a heroically inspirational story, what is?!
Why I think it’ll be nominated: Mass appeal meets incredible filmmaking.
Where to watch: fuboTV, Paramount+, Showtime
In postwar Arizona, a young man understands his family and himself better as he learns through the lens of his film camera. This semi-biographical film is Steven Spielberg’s love letter to his life and his family, and the creative talent that gripped him as a young man. Oscar darlings Michelle Williams and Paul Dano star as the parents, and Seth Rogen has a surprising turn as Bennie Loewy. If you love movies, or love Spielberg, you must watch this 1950s version of David Copperfield.
Why I think it’ll be nominated: It’s a love letter to filmmaking from the greatest director of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Where to watch: Only in theaters as of this writing (1/3/23)
This not-a-sequel follow up to 2019’s smash hit Knives Out is just as sharp, just as smart, and just as colorful (though not as tight or polished). Benoit Blanc finds himself trapped in another real-life Agatha Christie scenario on an eccentric billionaire’s private island in Greece - which you can own yourself for the low, low price of $450 million. The casting is superb, the story unfolds brilliantly, and there’s not a single second of wasted time. It leans into camp more than its predecessor (possibly to its detriment) but it’s as worthy of a PG-13 family movie night as it is an Oscar nom for its electric script. Come for the mystery, stay for Kate Hudson’s wardrobe.
Why I think it’ll be nominated: The whip-smart writing of this movie deserves to be recognized.
Where to watch: Netflix
For a movie that seemed to appear apropos of nothing on my Hulu account one day, this tender, sweet, fun film is garnering a lot of attention even months later. Part of that is thanks to Emma Thompson’s press tour, after which the Internet happily devoured her many anti-dieting sound bytes. (It’s worth mentioning that she promptly destroyed some of that good will by donning a fat suit for Matilda, but I digress). This little gem of a movie stars Thompson as a sixty-something retiree who decides the best way to fill her woefully neglected sexual cup is to hire a young, handsome sex worker. Wholesome (and not-so-wholesome) shenanigans ensue.
Why I think it’ll be nominated: Thompson is an underrated genius, and this movie buoys her best gifts.
Where to watch: hulu
Guillermo del Toro is no stranger to the Academy, with his most recent nomination going all they way to the top (Best Picture for The Shape of Water). Del Toro is a master at making weird stuff palatable for non-weirds so it’s no wonder that he would eventually tackle the most bizarre tale in children’s literature. While the animation is occasionally unsettling (would you expect anything else from the man who made Pan’s Labyrinth?), Del Toro handles the story with deftness and delicacy. Bonus points for Ewan McGregor’s dulcet tones in the role of the Cricket.
Why I think it’ll be nominated: It’s a non-Disney animated film with an Oscars veteran at the helm.
Where to watch: Netflix
Calling all fans of Abbott Elementary and The Righteous Gemstones: this absolutely wild ride of a mockumentary is for you. Regina Hall and Sterling K. Brown star as an unimpeachable pastor’s wife and a very-much-impeachable pastor who are trying to rebuild his reputation (and his megachurch) after a scandal. Produced by Daniel Kaluuya and Jordan Peele, you know this film has the stink of greatness. This ridiculous movie shows how poking fun of ourselves is one of the most vulnerable ways to change our minds.
Why I think it’ll be nominated: It’s an amazing, fresh idea, with some truly glorious performances.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime (free), Peacock
Staid, serious bureaucrat Williams has spent his life following the rules, only to find it’s landed him in perfect unhappiness. When his world is turned upside down, he ventures his head outside his stacks of papers to learn what’s really going on outside. It’s The Bucket List in a bowler hat and set in the 1950s. Bill Nighy is perfect as Williams, and despite the grim imagery the whole movie is shot with a healthy dose of wonder. The clincher? The screenwriter is bestselling heartbreaker author Kazuo Ishiguro.
Why I think it’ll be nominated: It’s a period piece starring a veteran British actor. Kaboom.
Where to watch: Only in theaters as of this writing (1/3/23)
Swedish behemoth A Man Called Ove (pronounced oo-vuh) by Frederik Backman quickly became one of the most popular novels of the past decade upon its English printing in 2014. The protagonist, a curmudgeonly widower, wants simply to be left alone after the passing of his dear wife. Just when he is about to end his life, new neighbors greatly inconvenience him by moving in and taking an interest. “Ove” was changed to “Otto” to appeal more to American audiences, but the basic premise, and the overwhelming charm, remain.
Why I think it’ll be nominated: Wildly popular source material and Tom Hanks.
Where to watch: Only in theaters as of this writing (1/3/23)
If you had told me in 2010 that a movie based on an absurd viral YouTube video would deserve Oscar accolades, I would’ve called in a 51/50. And yet, in the year of our Lord 2023, I am more than certain that this silly little film deserves recognition. It has a 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film expands on the premise of the original videos, still starring Jenny Slate as the indomitable Marcel, but expanding on the MCU (Marcel Cinematic Universe). There are a lot of directions this nomination could go - best animated feature, best adapted screenplay, best supporting actress for Isabella Rossellini (I said it!!).
Why I think it’ll be nominated: A shocking amount of craft and heart went in to this seemingly surface-level film.
Where to watch: Rent for $4.99 on Amazon, Google Play, or Vudu
Is it a comedy? Is it a thriller? Is it a love letter to gastronomy? Is it an eat-the-rich manifesto? Does it matter? The Menu is eerily similar to Triangle of Sadness featured later on this list, but both are worthy of your attention. A group of rich douchebags are invited to an exclusive gastronomic experience on a private island. Eventually they realize the whole thing is less Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous and more The Most Dangerous Game. Why Ralph Fiennes is allowed to have a British accent but Nicholas Hoult is not I do not know, but both of them along with Anja Taylor-Joy and Hong Chau anchor the cast of this absurd yet razor-sharp movie beautifully.
Why I think it’ll be nominated: Nicholas Hoult is often in the proximity of greatness (The Favourite, his relationship with Jennifer Lawrence) and perhaps his number has finally come up.
Where to watch: Only in theaters as of this writing (1/3/23)
Harry Styles received a LOT of press for Don’t Worry Darling thanks to his relationship with director Olivia Wilde, but the film that has critics buzzing about his Oscar potential is My Policeman. Styles stars as Tom, a man whose sordid affair with his friend Patrick is dredged up after 40 years in the closet. Frankly, Styles has yet to prove his acting chops to me, but his sheer charisma may be just enough to garner him a nomination. Currently My Policeman has a 46% rating with critics and a 96% audience score (so clearly Styles’s fans have flooded Rotten Tomatoes).
Why I think it’ll be nominated: The Academy loves period piece about a forbidden gay romance and we all know it.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime (free)
Christian Bale is quickly replacing Daniel Day-Lewis as the high-cheekboned weirdo who takes everything too seriously, and this period drama proves it. The year is 1830, and seasoned detective Augustus Landor (Bale) is called in to investigate the murder and mutilation of a young cadet at West Point. He enlists the help of a young man named Edgar Poe. Yes, THAT Edgar Poe. If that weren’t enough of a twist, young Poe is played by Harry Melling, a.k.a. DUDLEY DURSLEY. This gothic thriller is dark, moody, and convoluted, with beautiful art direction and cinematography and a plot that moves along at a decent clip.
Why I think it’ll be nominated: The aforementioned Bale > Day-Lewis replacement.
Where to watch: Currently in Theaters; watch on Netflix beginning January 6, 2023
In the high-stakes world of top-tier classical music, women conductors are disturbingly rare. Tár follows Lydia Tár (Cate Blanchett), a disciplined, eccentric, megalomaniacal, deeply flawed conductor who has clawed her way to the top. The movie explores the devastation she leaves in her wake. The pacing is a bit slow - the movie doesn’t get going until the last 45 minutes. It is also occasionally clumsy in its handling of the argument “should we separate the art from the artist?” Regardless, Blanchett is brilliant, and non-male antiheros are something we need more of in media.
Why I think it’ll be nominated: It’s very self-serious, and is begging for Blanchett’s next nom.
Where to watch: Rent on Vudu for $5.99
Is it the Oscars without a very, very sad period drama based on a heartbreaking true story? No, no it’s not. While there’s much to be said about the exploitation of black people through horrifically traumatic media, the story of Emmett Till deserves to be told. Young Till was only 14 years old when he was horrifically lynched in Mississippi in 1955. The movie follows his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley’s decision to keep Emmett’s casket open at his funeral in Chicago, and the way that decision shaped civil rights. It’s a bit gruesome (they do show Emmett’s mutilation) but it’s an important watch, and will likely give Danielle Deadwyler (Mamie) a place on the A-List (as 12 Years a Slave did for Chiwetel Ejiofor and Lupita Nyong’o).
Why I think it’ll be nominated: A very sad story and a powerhouse performance.
Where to watch: Buy on Amazon Prime for $19.99
If you didn’t see this movie, I’d like to wish you a happy Rumspringa! This much-anticipated follow up to the 1980s classic was every bit as fun, exciting, and adventurous as its predecessor. What it lacks in creative storytelling the movie more than makes up for with incredible visual effects, or lack thereof, as the movie relied very little on CGI or special effects. For maximum authenticity, the actors filmed themselves flying in the cockpits of military aircraft for up to 12 hours at a time. It’s a fun romp of a movie with broad appeal and deserves a watch (or 10th rewatch). There’s some buzz that it’ll be nominated for Best Picture, and while that makes me, a well-known snob, skeptical, I admit it’s possible.
Why I think it’ll be nominated: Exceptional action movies often get at least a few technical nods, and Top Gun may transcend the technical trap (as Dune did in 2022).
Where to watch: Epix, Paramount+
Once you’ve seen The Menu, follow it up with Eat the Rich Part II - a.k.a. Triangle of Sadness. Nothing is off-limits to the guests on a luxury yacht expedition, especially supermodels Carl (Harris Dickinson) and Yaya (Charlbi Dean). But the tables are swiftly turned when the yacht is caught in a horrible storm, and head staffer Paula (Vicki Berlin) is the survivors’ only chance at braving the remote island they wash up on. Woody Harrelson’s gleeful turn as the ship’s captain is not to be missed. Be warned, however - there is a fair amount of vomiting in the shipwreck scene.
Why I think it’ll be nominated: It’s cheeky, canny, and brilliant. Plus, Charlbi Dean tragically died before the film’s release.
Where to watch: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, or Vudu for $5.99
Another box to tick on the Oscars checklist - the Disney/Pixar film that will win Best Animated Film. With no musicals stuffed with earworms around, a brand new story is much more plausible as this year’s winner. Set in Toronto, 13-year-old daughter of Chinese immigrants Mai Lee is having a hard enough time managing growing up, when one day she starts turning into a red panda. While Lightyear also premiered from Disney in 2022, Turning Red is sensitive, silly, wholesome, diverse, and brilliantly original.
Why I think it’ll be nominated: It’s the latest addition to Disney’s panoply of incredible animated films.
Where to watch: Disney +
To pull a Cook’s Illustrated, I recommend The Whale only with strong reservations. On the one hand, Brendan Fraser’s triumphant return to the silver screen was lauded with a 6 minute standing ovation at the Cannes film festival. On the other hand, the original source material relies on our worst beliefs about fat people as a society to tell Charlie’s (Fraser) story, and Darren Aronofsky did nothing to update the film’s messaging about fatness. Both Fraser and Sadie Sink (as Charlie’s daughter Ellie) will be long remembered for their serious chops, including giving their characters the compassion that no one else (including the writer and director) were willing to give.
Why I think it’ll be nominated: Beloved Fraser’s long-awaited return to a role that really gives him room to show his capacity for empathy.
Where to watch: Only in theaters as of this writing (1/3/23)
Every year, the International Feature Film and Documentary Feature categories contain little nuggets of excellent filmmaking that don’t make it to the mainstream. With Wildcat, however, you can see an Oscar-worthy documentary before its inclusion in the official nominations. Struggling with PTSD after time serving in Afghanistan, a young British man finds solace fostering a baby ocelot in the Amazon rainforest. If you’re an animal lover, keep your tissues handy - this film is a testament to what can happen when humanity and nature have a healthy relationship.
Why I think it’ll be nominated: It’s a beautifully shot, deeply emotional documentary.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime (Free)
This blog post may age like lukewarm milk (2023 Oscar nominations will be announced Tuesday, January 24 and the ceremony will take place on Sunday, March 12th). A few other movies will almost certainly be nominated (All Quiet on the Western Front - war movie; Puss in Boots: The Last Wish - Dreamworks’s animated offering). But if you want to be part of the cultural conversation, start here.
